Cleaning system

ABSTRACT

A cleaning system has a high velocity fan held within an air-directing casing movably mounted between the lower ends of an inverted U-shaped yoke. The blade configuration of the fan assures that air is directed outwardly in a narrow beam. The system rotates about a vertical extendable support tube and the casing and fan oscillate about a horizontal axis through a vertical angle which can extend from horizontal to near-vertical in the upper and lower direction. A crank arm connects to the U-shaped yoke and to one end of a crank rod which connects to the fan casing. Rotation of the crank arm displaces the crank rod so that the casing and fan oscillate about the horizontal axis. The crank arm is adjustable in length by spaced apart holes. The length of the crank rod is adjustable by using a two piece crank rod with the free end of each crank rod piece being adjustably secured to a connecting rod. The newly designed crank rod having additional spaced apart holes provides additional adjustability features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to universally mounted fans and more particularly to an improved construction for such fan use in textile mills, laundries or any other operation where removing lint from ceilings, walls, floors and machinery is desired.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Lint accumulation in textile mills and laundries on machinery, ceilings and walls is to be avoided wherever possible. Air blasts and traveling cleaners have been extensively used for this purpose, and some cleaners have been specifically designed for sweeping floor and aisle areas.

Air blast fans have, for the most part, been effective in keeping lint collection off machinery, ceilings and floors especially when they are placed in groups with other fans, however they are limited to an area or pattern where cleaning takes place because of the structure on which they are positioned. They can be programmed to cut off whenever certain areas are to be “shadowed,” however they are restricted to directing a large volume of air to the same locations in the facility. There has been some variation in airflow pattern because of the presence of a crank arm that connects to one end of a crank rod which is connected to the fan casing and causes the casing and fan to oscillate from a horizontal position to a near vertical position when the crank arm is rotated. The crank arm is provided with a row of spaced holes for attaching the crank rod thus providing some adjustment in the effective length of the crank arm and thus some variation in the air flow pattern. However when a more deliberate, different pattern is desired, the crank rod will need to be changed to a different length thus requiring major down and maintenance on the fan.

Thus a more efficient and less expensive air flow change is needed, and it is to that need that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cleaning system having a high velocity fan held within an air-directing casing movably mounted between the lower ends of an inverted U-shaped yoke. A blade structure within the casing assures that air is directed outwardly in a narrow beam. The system rotates as a whole about a vertical extendable support trube and the casing and fan oscillate about a horizontal axis through a vertical sweep angle which can extend from horizontal to near-vertical, both in the upper and lower direction. A crank arm is connected to the U-shaped yoke and to one end of a crank rod which, in turn, connects with the fan casing. Rotation of the crank arm displaces the crank rod so that casing and fan oscillate about the horizontal axis where the casing is held by the inverted yoke lower ends. The crank arm has spaced apart holes to provide adjustment in the effective length of the crank rod. More adjustment in the length of the crank rod is obtained by using a two piece crank rod with the free end of each crank rod piece adjustably secured to a connecting rod. Thus the length of the crank rod can be changed as needed without the need of replacing it with a crank rod of a different length thus eliminating the down time and inefficiency occurring when the existing crank rod is removed and another crank rod of a different size is installed. One or more extendable sway braces may be used in the support structure, so that the support tube, the sway braces and the cronk rod can all be adjustably changed without removing and replacing them. A newly designed crank arm having additional spaced apart holes adds additional adjustability features.

From the foregoing summary it will be apparent that the principle objective of the present invention is to provide a crank rod length adjusting means that will result in greater efficiency and time savings than occurs from the use of a traditional single member crank rod.

Another objective of the present invention is to use a two piece crank rod with an adjustable connecting rod to vary the length of the crank rod rather than replacing it with a crank rod of a different size.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable support rod and one or more adjustable sway braces to be certain that the entire structure can be changed consistently with a change in the length of the crank rod.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to design and use a new crank arm that has adjustable settings than previously used.

Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and products resulting therefrom that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The application is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.

Thus, the objectives of the invention set forth above, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a high velocity fan with a conventional crank rod and crank arm.

FIG. 2 is an upward perspective view of a conventional high velocity fan.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary and partial perspective view of the crank arm and crank rod length adjusting device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a conventional crank rod and the two piece crank rod of the present invention shown in the shortest condition.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a conventional crank rod and the two piece crank rod of the present invention shown in the longest condition.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an expandable support tube utilizing the present inventive concept.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an extendable sway brace utilizing the present inventive concept.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the extendable crank rod of the present invention shown in the shortest condition.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the extended crank arm of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a chart illustrating the calculation of the adjusted crank rod length.

FIG. 11 is a chart illustrating the calculation of the centerline distance between swivel joints.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention involves improvements in and for the ceiling cleaner fan 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which is used to control lint accumulation on the ceilings, walls, floors and machinery in textile mills, laundries and other facilities where fabrics and the like are fabricated, used or otherwise handled. Fan 10 is universally mounted and of the type that rotates as a whole about a vertical axis while the fan itself simultaneously oscillates about a horizontal axis so that the air stream from the fan oscillates through a vertical sweep angle which can extend from horizontal to near-vertical. The particulars of cleaner fan 10 and its associated components are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,321, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In the improved version of fan 10 (hereinafter 10′) and its components, a more precise, regulated and efficient control system has been developed to maximize the positive utilization of fan 10′. An adjustable crank rod 12 is provided by making one crank rod into two crank rods 14 and inserting a threaded member 16 into threadably compatible receptors 18 in the end 20 of each of the two crank rods 14 thus resulting in part in a crank rod length adjusting means 12. The same changes to provide adjustability is extended to the support tube 13 and to one or more sway braces 15. They are provided in 2 pieces with a threaded member adjustably connecting the 2 pieces as is the case with the crank rod. When a crank rod length change is required, there may or may not be a change needed in the lengths of support tube 13 or sway braces 15, but the ability to make such change has been provided.

Crank rod adjusting means also includes an adjustable crank arm 24 having a plurality of spaced apart apertures 26 precisely spaced to achieve a given crank rod displacement as shown in FIGS. 3 and 11. Crank rod displacement is critical to the successful operation and effective results from the use of crank arm 12. By developing a length adjusting crank rod and an even more critically adjustable crank arm 24 displacement, the present invention can be significantly more effective. See the graphs reflected in FIGS. 10 and 11. Precise angles of oscillation can be calculated from these materials so that special areas needing special treatments from the oscillating fan can be targeted and treated. The combination of the adjustable crank rod with the adjustable crank arm gives this system a great range. Moreover, an adjustable crank rod and crank arm eliminate the time-consuming and inefficient practice of changing to a different size crank rod and arm when new locations or patterns are needed or desired.

The chart in FIG. 10 illustrates the limitations of the system, particularly the maximum and minimum length requirements of crank rod 22 when it is placed in each of the eight (8) position numbers of crank arm 24. Note the example given on the chart. The field adjusted crank rod (length from center line to center line) must be within the range shown on this graph. An example points out that for crank arm position (5), the center to center line length must be between 19.5″ and 22.6″.

The FIG. 11 chart reflects the crank rod distance, crank arm position and upper and lower angles from the horizontal of the fan for each combination crank rod—crank arm setting. For example, to select a crank arm position and crank rod distance which will make the fan oscillate from 55 degrees above horizontal to 58 degrees below horizontal, a horizontal line is drawn from the 55 degree mark on the y axis until it intercepts the P7 upper line, a vertical line is then drawn from that point of interception until it reaches the lower P7 line, and then a horizontal line is drawn from that location to the y axis. Thus, the crank arm position is P7 and the centerline-to-centerline distance of the crank rod (read on the x axis) is 21.6 inches.

This application discloses different and alternative practices for the use of a proven and established universal fan that make a significant contribution to current industrial applications.

From the preceding description, it can be seen that a crank rod length-adjusting means for a universal fan has been provided that will meet all of the advantages of prior art devices and offer additional advantages not heretofore achievable. With respect to the foregoing invention, the optimum dimensional relationship to the parts of the invention including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, use and assembly are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed herein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. All suitable modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims are deemed within the present inventive concept. 

1. In a cleaning system having a fan within a casing, a u-shaped yoke supporting the casing and fan providing vertical oscillating movement of the casing and fan with respect to the yoke, a vertical shaft connected to the yoke providing horizontal movement of the system about the vertical shaft, a crank rod movably connected to the casing, a crank arm movably connected to the yoke and the crank rod and having spaced apart holes therein to provide adjustment to the effective length of the crank rod, the combination with the crank arm and the crank rod of crank rod length adjusting means.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the length adjusting means includes a crank arm having multiple adjustment apertures and a two piece crank rod, one end of each piece providing for threadable connection therewith, and a connecting rod having two ends, each end cooperatively threaded to be received by each threaded end of the two piece crank rod thereby providing an adjustable length crank rod.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the crank rod minimum length is less than 20 inches.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the crank rod maximum length is at least 24 inches.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the crank rod maximum length is at least 24 inches.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the crank rod minimum length is less than 20 inches.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the crank arm and the adjustable length crank rod enables the casing and fan to be oscillated between a horizontal position to a vertical position of 70 degrees.
 8. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the adjustable length crank rod enables the casing and fan to be oscillated between a horizontal position and to a lower position of −70 degrees.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the adjustable length crank rod enables the casing and fan to be oscillated between a vertical position of 70 degrees to a lower position of −70 degrees.
 10. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the crank rod maximum length is at least 24 inches and the minimum length is less than 20 inches.
 11. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the crank rod length adjusting means includes first and second crank rod pieces each having first and second ends and a connecting rod having first and second ends, the first crank rod piece second end connecting to the connecting rod first end and the second crank rod piece first end connecting to the connecting rod second end.
 12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the crank rod minimum length is less than 20 inches.
 13. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the crank rod maximum length is at least 24 inches.
 14. The combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein the crank rod maximum length is at least 24 inches.
 15. The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein the crank rod minimum length is less than 20 inches.
 16. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the crank rod length adjusting means enables the casing and fan to be oscillated between a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position of at least 70 degrees.
 17. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the crank arm and the crank rod length adjusting means enables the casing and fan to be oscillated between a horizontal position to a lower position of −70 degrees.
 18. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the crank rod length adjusting means enables the casing and fan to be oscillated between a substantially vertical position of at least 70 degrees to a lower position of −70 degrees.
 19. The combination as claimed in claim 1 including means determining the correct crank arm position and crank rod length for a fan oscillating between a desired vertical position and a desired lower position.
 20. The combination as claimed in claim 2 including means determining the correct crank arm position and crank arm length for a fan oscillating between a desired vertical position and a desired lower position.
 21. The combination as claimed in claim 11 including means determining the correct crank arm position and crank rod length for a fan oscillating between a desired substantially vertical position and a desired lower position.
 22. In a cleaning system having a fan within a casing, a U-shaped yoke supporting the casing and fan providing vertical oscillating movement of the casing and fan with respect to the yoke, a vertical support tube connected at one end to a supporting overhead mounting surface and the other end connected to the yoke providing horizontal movement of the system about the vertical support tube, a crank rod movably connected to the casing, a crank arm movably connected to the yoke and the crank rod and having spaced apart apertures therein to provide adjustment to the effective length of the crank rod, the combination with the crank arm, the crank rod and the vertical support tube of vertical support tube and crank rod length adjusting means.
 23. The combination as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system has at least one sway brace, the combination with the at least one sway brace of sway brace length adjusting means. 